Differentiate between worshipping a false god and worshipping God falsely

[laircy]

For example, do Muslims worship a different God than we do or do we worship the same God but have different understandings? Is it a different god because they do not believe in the Trinity or is it the same but just a different understanding? If different, what degree of heresy does it officially become a separate god? Do Mormons worship the same God as we do, but have the wrong idea? Sorry if this is confusing, I’m just curious.

 

[ZDHayden]

Rather interesting question. One can only offer one’s opinions or whatever the Church has said. I am uncertain on both fronts (Islam and LDS) as to the Church’s official position.

Here is my opinion; it is one that was formed when I was much younger (around 7th grade), and eventually became part of my arguments against religion when I left Christianity in the 9th grade. Since rediscovering Christianity, this argument has come back, but I think I understand it better than I did then, when it came to me in the first place.

Here it is, mostly in its original form, brackets indicate a later addition (please note that the vocabulary here is more refined than it was then):

It seems to me that for many people, God is in their own image, rather than they in God’s image. As worshiped by many people, it seems, God is merely a reflection of their desires, wants, hopes, and dreams - a projection of their idea of perfection. For many people, probably even myself, God is their creation, and each has their own. God for many has no roots in objectivity - I [at the time] have not met a man yet whose conception of God was in any meaningful way separate from themselves. Perhaps that is the reason for so many different religions. I wonder how different people would be if we couldn’t say ‘my’. I think much of the problem is an over-emphasis on the possessive. Perhaps if we rid ourselves of ‘my’, we would be better off. Perhaps we might then be able to find God as He really is if we are not so wrapped up in ourselves. [We find the men and women who best knew God - the Saints - also were perhaps the least selfish people humanity had ever produced. There is a correlation between their lack of selfishness and their fidelity with God, but perhaps also a causation: does their lack of selfishness cause greater fidelity with God, or does great fidelity with God cause selflessnes. Or perhaps it is both: an active willingness of fidelity to God nurtures and bears selflessness, which in turn nurtures fidelity towards God?]

Those are the extents of my thoughts on the matter for now. Perhaps this helped? I hope so.

 

[Sam_777]

I think it all depends on our deeds, if someone worshipping the true GOD yet he/she makes bad deeds, he/she might spend long time in Purgatory, while if someone thinks that he/she is worshipping the true GOD and he/she makes good deed, might end in Paradise.

 

[laircy]

Thank you for the interesting answers.

 

[laircy]

Bump.
Still wondering.

 

[Cowboy_Pete]

It seems to me that for many people, God is in their own image, rather than they in God’s image. As worshiped by many people, it seems, God is merely a reflection of their desires, wants, hopes, and dreams - a projection of their idea of perfection. For many people, probably even myself, God is their creation, and each has their own. God for many has no roots in objectivity - I [at the time] have not met a man yet whose conception of God was in any meaningful way separate from themselves.

That’s a very profound insight, and makes me glad that I came to this forum.

You’ve got me thinking.

When we learn to pray, we ask God for our daily bread, for our needs and desires, but God knows our needs and desires before we say them. As we become perfected in Christ, we gradually learn to seek God’s will rather than our own. To take Christ’s image in our countenances.

For now we see through the glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now we know in part, but then we shall know as we are known.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

[BartBurk]

For example, do Muslims worship a different God than we do or do we worship the same God but have different understandings? Is it a different god because they do not believe in the Trinity or is it the same but just a different understanding? If different, what degree of heresy does it officially become a separate god? Do Mormons worship the same God as we do, but have the wrong idea? Sorry if this is confusing, I’m just curious.

I guess the question is do we think God accepts the worship of someone who is worshiping Him with less than perfect understanding? If there is only one God it would seem to me that it would be impossible to worship one that doesn’t exist.